Foldable goal frame for soccer or other sports

ABSTRACT

A foldable goal frame includes first to third support bars forming a base, first and second vertical bars joined to the base, and a top bar joined to the vertical bars. The third support bar is joined to the first and second support bars by first and second folding joints. The first and second vertical bars are respectively joined to the first and second support bars by third and fourth folding joints. The first and second vertical bars are joined to the top bar by fifth and sixth folding joints. Two inclined support bars are each joined between a vertical bar and a corresponding support bar; each inclined support bar has two sections joined together by a folding joint. The top bar and third support bar each has a telescoping structure. The folding joints allow the entire goal frame to be folded into a bundle of parallel bars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to sports equipment, and in particular, it relates to a foldable goal frame for soccer or other sports.

Description of Related Art

Many ball games, such as soccer, require a goal, where the objective of the game is to put the ball into the other side's goal. Conventional goal frames are typically an assembled product. Because the goal frame itself is relatively large, if it is pre-assembled at the factory and then transported to the customer's location, the transportation will be difficult. Thus, the goal frames are typically designed in multiple individual pieces, such as multiple sections of tubes, which are much easier to transport, and the customer will assemble the pieces into the goal frame on site. Because the assembling process involves attaching the net to the frame, and because the individual tubes often have different lengths, the assembling process can be complex.

Therefore, there is a need for a goal frame that is easy to transport and also east to install to make it more friendly for the end customer.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a foldable goal frame that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the descriptions that follow and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a foldable goal frame, which includes: a base, a first vertical bar, a second vertical bar, and a top bar; wherein the base includes a first support bar, a second support bar, and a third support bar, wherein a first end of the third support bar is joined to a first end of the first support bar by a first folding joint, a second end of the third support bar is joined to a first end of the second support bar by a second folding joint, a first end of the first vertical bar is joined to a second end of the first support bar by a third folding joint, a first end of the second vertical bar is joined to a second end of the second support bar by a fourth folding joint, a second end of the first vertical bar is joined to a first end of the top bar by a fifth folding joint, and a second end of the second vertical bar is joined to a second end of the top bar by a sixth folding joint.

Each of the first to sixth folding joints has a pivotal axis, wherein the pivotal axes of the first and second foldable joints are parallel to each other, the pivotal axes of the third and first foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the fourth and second foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the fifth and third foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the sixth and fourth foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, and the pivotal axes of the fifth and sixth foldable joints are parallel to each other.

The foldable goal frame may further include an inclined support bar having a first section and a second section, the first section having a first end pivotally connected to a point along the first vertical bar, the second section having a second end pivotally connected to a point along the first support bar, wherein the first section and the second section are joined by a seventh folding joint, wherein the seventh folding joint has a pivotal axis which is parallel to the pivotal axis of the third folding joint.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a goal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention in a deployed state ready to use.

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the goal frame in a folded state.

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a folding joint show in portion A in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 1-3, the various components are: base 1, first support bar 10, second support bar 11, third support bar 12, vertical bars 2, first vertical bar 20, second vertical bar 21, top bar 3, first folding joint 40, first connecting member 400, second connecting member 401, locking member 402, second folding joint 41, third folding joint 42, fourth folding joint 43, fifth folding joint 44, sixth folding joint 45, seventh folding joint 46, eighth folding joint 47, first inclined support bar 5, upper section of first inclined support bar 50, lower section of first inclined support bar 51, second inclined support bar 6, upper section of second inclined support bar 60, lower section of second inclined support bar 61.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the foldable goal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a base 1, vertical bars (goal posts) 2, and a top bar 3. The base 1 includes: a first support bar 10, a second support bar 11 disposed in parallel to the first support bar 10 in the deployed state, and a third support bar 12 that is joined at its one end to the first end of the first support bar 10 and at its other end to the first end of the second support bar 11. The first support bar 10 and the third support bar 12 are joined together by a first folding joint 40, and the second support bar 11 and the third support bar 12 are joined together by a second folding joint 41. The pivotal axes of the first and second foldable joints 40 and 41 are parallel to each other, and are in the vertical direction in the deployed state.

The vertical bars 2 includes a first vertical bar 20 and a second vertical bar 21. The lower end of the first vertical bar 20 and the second end of the of the first support bar 10 are joined together by a third folding joint 42, and the lower end of the second vertical bar 21 and the second end of the of the second support bar 11 are joined together by a fourth folding joint 43. The pivotal axes of the third and first foldable joints 42 and 40 (both joints being connected to the first support bar 10) are perpendicular to each other. Similarly, the pivotal axes of the fourth and second foldable joints 43 and 41 are perpendicular to each other.

One end of the top bar 3 and the upper end of the first vertical bar 20 are joined together by a fifth folding joint 44, and the other end of the top bar 3 and the upper end of the second vertical bar 21 are joined together by a sixth folding joint 45. The pivotal axes of the fifth and third foldable joints 44 and 42 (both joints being connected to the first vertical bar 20) are perpendicular to each other. Similarly, the pivotal axes of the sixth and fourth foldable joints 45 and 43 are perpendicular to each other. The pivotal axes of the fifth and sixth foldable joints 44 and 45 are parallel to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the top bar 3 includes three (or more) telescoping tubes. More specifically, the middle tube of the bar 3 has a smaller diameter than, and can slide into, the two end tubes of the bar; or alternatively, the middle tube of the bar 3 has a larger diameter than, and can slide over, the two end tubes of the bar. A releasable locking structure is provided at the connection locations of the tubes to keep them in the extended configuration. For example, the releasable locking structure may include a spring loaded ball or pin provide on one tube with a corresponding through hole provided on the connected tube, where the ball or pin can protrude through the through hole when the two tubes are in the extended state or other predefined relative positions. Alternatively, releasable locking structure may include one or more through holes provided on each tube, and a pin that passes through the through holes. The through holes on different tubes will be aligned with each other when the two tubes are in the extended state or other predefined relative positions to allow the pin to pass through them. Other suitable releasable locking structures may be employed. Further, the connecting ends of the tubes may have non-round cross-sectional shapes that can prevent the tubes from rotating relative to each other, which can make it easier to assemble the releasable locking structure. The third support bar 12 has a similar telescoping structure as the top bar 3. The telescoping structures of the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12 also allow the user to adjust the width of the goal, and can help to reduce the folded size of the goal frame as described in more detail later.

A first inclined support bar 5 is disposed between the first vertical bar 20 and the first support bar 10. A second inclined support bar 6 is disposed between the second vertical bar 21 and the second support bar 11. The first inclined support bar 5 includes a upper section 50 with its upper end pivotally connected to a point along the first vertical bar 20, and a lower section 51 with its lower end pivotally connected to a point along the first support bar 10. The upper section 50 and lower section 51 of the first inclined support bar are joined together by a seventh folding joint 46. In preferred embodiments, the first inclined support bar 5 is not located on the plane defined by the first support bar 10 and first vertical bar 20; rather, it is located on the outside side or the inside side of that plane (with respect to a center of the goal frame). The rotation axes of the pivotal connections of the first inclined support bar 5 to the first support bar 10 and first vertical bar 20, as well as the pivotal axis of the seventh foldable joint 46, are parallel to the pivotal axis of the third foldable joint 42 that joins the first support bar 10 and the first vertical bar 20. The second inclined support bar 6 includes a upper section 60 and a lower section 61 joined together by an eighth folding joint 47. The second inclined support bar 6 is connected to the second vertical bar 21 and the second support bar 11 in a similar manner that the first inclined support bar 5 is connected to the bars 20 and 10.

In this embodiment, the first to eighth folding joints 40-47 have identical or similar structures. Each folding joint pivotally joins two bars, with the pivotal axis perpendicular to the two bars, so that the two bars can pivot toward or away from each other. Preferably, the pivotal joint does not allow rotation of the bars around their longitudinal directions, which ensures stability of the goal frame. The folding joint allows the two bars to be pivoted to a state where they are disposed parallel to and adjacent each other, preferably without any appreciable gap in between. In the illustrated embodiment (see FIG. 3), each folding joint includes a first connecting member 400 and a second connecting member 401 respectively connected to the two bars that are being joined, a shaft (not visible in FIG. 3) passing through them to act as the pivotal axis, and a hand-operable turn knob 402 (a locking member) at the end of the shaft. The first and second connecting members 400 and 401, the shaft, and the locking member 402 cooperate with each other to press the first and second connecting members 400 and 401 against each other to prevent their relative rotation. In one embodiment, the shaft is a threaded shaft that engages internal threads of the first connecting member 400 and/or the second connecting member 401, and the turn knob is formed integrally with the shaft and can turn the shaft to press the two connecting members against each other. In another embodiment, the shaft is threadedly engaged with internal threads of the turn knob 402, and cooperate with the turn knob to press the first connecting member 400 and second connecting member 401 against each other. The faces of the first connecting member 400 and second connecting member 401 that contact each other may be provided with radially extending teeth which help prevent the two connecting members from rotating relative to each other after they are pressed tightly against each other. This enhances the stability and safety of the goal frame after deployment.

In an alternative embodiment, the first connecting member 400 and second connecting member 401 may have through holes at off-axis locations, where the through holes are aligned with each other when the bars being joined are rotated to desired relative positions (e.g. to achieve the deployed state), and a pin may be inserted through the aligned through holes to lock the relative rotation of the bars. In other alternative embodiments, the folding joints may user other structures such as hinges, in which case the two bars are connected to the hinge by bolts. More generally, any suitable structure may be used to pivotally join the two bars together with a releasable locking structure. When unlocked, the folding joint allows the two bars to pivot relative to each other, and when locked, the folding joint prevents the two bars to pivot relative to each other. The releasable locking structure is preferably hand-operable, but may also use a structure (such as bolts and nuts) that requires a tool to operate.

When folding the goal frame, first, the third folding joint 42 and fourth folding joint 43 are unlocked so they can pivot; the first vertical bar 20, the second vertical bar 21, along with the top bar 3, as a whole, are folded toward the direction of the base 1. During this folding step, the upper and lower sections of the first inclined support bar 5 and second inclined support bar 6 are also folded around the seventh folding joint 46 and eighth folding joint 47, respectively. After this first folding step, the first vertical bar 20 and the first support bar 10 are disposed in parallel and adjacent to each other, the second vertical bar 21 and second support bar 11 are disposed in parallel and adjacent to each other, and the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12 are disposed in parallel and adjacent to each other. Note that this requires the first vertical bar 20 and first support bar 10 to have the same lengths, and the second vertical bar 21 and second support bar 11 to have the same lengths. The upper section 50 and lower section 51 of the first inclined support bar 5 are also disposed in parallel and adjacent to each other, and they are disposed in parallel and respectively adjacent to the first vertical bar 20 and first support bar 10. The upper section 60 and lower section 61 of the second inclined support bar 6 are disposed adjacent to the second vertical bar 21 and second support bar 11 in a similar manner.

Next, the first folding joint 40, the second folding joint 41, the fifth folding joint 44 and the sixth folding joint 45 are unlocked; the first vertical bar 20 and first support bar 10 are folded toward the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12, and the second vertical bar 21 and second support bar 11 are also folded toward the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12. After the second folding step, both the first vertical bar 20 and second vertical bar 21 are disposed in parallel and adjacent to the top bar 3, and both the first support bar 10 and second support bar 11 are disposed in parallel and immediately adjacent to the third support bar 12 (see FIG. 2). In this folded state, all bars are parallel to each other, and preferably without any appreciable gap between adjacent bars.

Preferably, the sum of the lengths of the first and second vertical bars 20 and 21 is less than the longest extended length of the top bar 3, so a gap may exist between the first vertical bar 20 and second vertical bar 21 after the second folding step. The lengths of the first support bar 10, the second support bar 11 and the third support bar 12 have a similar relationship. Thus, the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12 can be shortened, e.g. by retracting the telescoping sections of these bars into each other. Preferably, the shortened lengths of the top bar 3 (and the third support bar 12) is approximately equal to the total length of the first vertical bar 20 and the second vertical bar 21. Note that the step of shortening the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12 may be performed before the first and/or second folding steps.

In an alternative embodiment, in the second folding step, the first vertical bar 20 and the first support bar 10 are folded toward one side of the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12, and the second vertical bar 21 and the second support bar 11 are folded toward the opposite side of the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12, so the bars 20 and 10, the bars 3 and 12, and the bars 21 and 11 form a collapsed Z shape. This may allow the top bar 3 and the third support bar 12 to be shortened to an even shorter length, e.g., approximately the length of the individual bars 20, 10, 21 and 11. Preferably, if this folding method is used, one of the first inclined support bar 5 and the second inclined support bar 6 is located on the inside side of the correspond vertical bar and support bar, and the other one is located on the outside side of the correspond vertical bar and support bar.

A goal frame according to embodiments the present invention has a simple structure, which allows a user to deploy the goal frame by unfolding it. The user is not required to assemble the goal frame. Moreover, by providing folding joints at key positions of the goal frame, the folded goal frame is a compact bundle of parallel bars. This reduces the packaged size for transportation and enhances efficiency.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made in the goal frame and related folding method of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable goal frame, comprising: a base, a first vertical bar, a second vertical bar, and a top bar; wherein the base includes a first support bar, a second support bar, and a third support bar, wherein a first end of the third support bar is joined to a first end of the first support bar by a first folding joint, a second end of the third support bar is joined to a first end of the second support bar by a second folding joint, a first end of the first vertical bar is joined to a second end of the first support bar by a third folding joint, a first end of the second vertical bar is joined to a second end of the second support bar by a fourth folding joint, a second end of the first vertical bar is joined to a first end of the top bar by a fifth folding joint, and a second end of the second vertical bar is joined to a second end of the top bar by a sixth folding joint.
 2. The foldable goal frame of claim 1, wherein each of the first to sixth folding joints has a pivotal axis, wherein the pivotal axes of the first and second foldable joints are parallel to each other, the pivotal axes of the third and first foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the fourth and second foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the fifth and third foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the sixth and fourth foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, and the pivotal axes of the fifth and sixth foldable joints are parallel to each other.
 3. The foldable goal frame of claim 2, further comprising: an inclined support bar having a first section and a second section, the first section having a first end pivotally connected to a point along the first vertical bar, the second section having a second end pivotally connected to a point along the first support bar, wherein the first section and the second section are joined by a seventh folding joint, wherein the seventh folding joint has a pivotal axis which is parallel to the pivotal axis of the third folding joint.
 4. The foldable goal frame of claim 1, wherein each of the top bar and the third support bar is formed of a plurality of telescoping tubes.
 5. The foldable goal frame of claim 4, wherein an end of one of the telescoping tubes and an end of another one of the telescoping tubes have non-round cross-sectional shapes.
 6. The foldable goal frame of claim 4, wherein the each of the top bar and the third support bar further includes one or more releasable locking structures configured to lock the plurality of telescoping tubes to predefined relative positions.
 7. The foldable goal frame of claim 1, wherein each of the first to sixed foldable joints includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a releasable locking structure configured to lock relative rotations of the first and second connecting members.
 8. The foldable goal frame of claim 1, wherein each of the first to sixed foldable joints includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, a shaft passing through the connecting member and the second connecting member, and a turn knob engaged with the shaft, the shaft and the turn knob being configured to press the first and second connecting members against each other.
 9. The foldable goal frame of claim 8, wherein faces of the first connecting member and second connecting member that contact each other include radially extending teeth.
 10. The foldable goal frame of claim 1, wherein each of the first to sixed foldable joints includes a hinge.
 11. The foldable goal frame of claim 1, wherein the first to sixth folding joints are configured to fold the base, the first vertical bar, the second vertical bar, and the top bar into a bundle of parallel bars. 